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FGW Myths: First Great Western can simply add more services without permission from the DfT

http://fgwmyths.blogspot.com/2007/03/first-great-western-can-simply-add-more.html

Sunday, 11 March 2007. First Great Western can simply add more services without permission from the DfT. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom).

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The Truth About First Great Western: January 2008

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Friday, 11 January 2008. Like a hole in the head. The decision by RMT members on First Great Western’s routes to take industrial action later this month is the very last thing the company or the company’s customers need. That the situation has arisen because of a dispute over something as paltry as the use of management staff on trains will only add to the disappointment felt by those who will be affected. That the RMT should make such a huge fuss over such a simple matter demonstrates how completely out...

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The Truth About First Great Western: The franchising farce

http://firstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/07/franchising-farce.html

Tuesday, 3 July 2007. The nature of the franchising system is probably the primary barrier to the growth of the rail network. The central issue with franchises is the short time periods for which they are granted: the majority of franchises are given to Train Operating Companies for periods of 7 to 10 years, with the final years usually being conditional on meeting certain performance criteria. As well as stifling investment, the franchise system also means that the network is run on a short term basis&#...

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The Truth About First Great Western: All change

http://firstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/09/all-change.html

Tuesday, 18 September 2007. It was probably always bound to happen; it was only a matter of time. After weeks of speculation and rumour, First Group this afternoon confirmed that Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western since early 2004, is to move to a new position within the group. It is all too easy to associate the problems of FGW with Alison Forster; after all, many of them did occur on her watch. But to do so is both disingenuous and represents a misreading of the truth. Nevertheles...

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The Truth About First Great Western: September 2007

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Tuesday, 18 September 2007. It was probably always bound to happen; it was only a matter of time. After weeks of speculation and rumour, First Group this afternoon confirmed that Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western since early 2004, is to move to a new position within the group. It is all too easy to associate the problems of FGW with Alison Forster; after all, many of them did occur on her watch. But to do so is both disingenuous and represents a misreading of the truth. Nevertheles...

firstgreatwestern.blogspot.com

The Truth About First Great Western: February 2007

http://firstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

Tuesday, 13 February 2007. The trouble with the Department…. The Department for Transport, similar to the rest of the current government, is arrogant and out of touch. With remarkable consistency it forgets that it is, primarily, there to listen to the electorate and be responsive to their needs. Tuesday, 6 February 2007. A campaign for every reader. The Standard’s campaign does nothing to achieve these aims and, as such, it’s little more than a squandered opportunity. You can’t please…. Changing the nat...

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The Truth About First Great Western: June 2007

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Saturday, 30 June 2007. Holding a position because you genuinely believe something to be true is admirable. Advocating something simply because it will secure you a modicum of publicity is both cheap and cynical. It is into this latter category that London TravelWatch’s recent call. For First Great Western to lose its franchise falls. Despite what London TravelWatch say, or don’t quite say, the franchise will not be removed from First Great Western. For a start, the terms of the agreement have ...That sh...

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The Truth About First Great Western: July 2007

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Tuesday, 10 July 2007. Lies, damn lies and newspaper stories. This morning’s Times story. About overcrowding on First Great Western’s trains will resonate with many passengers. Capacity problems are one of the most significant issues on the rail network and one of the things that angers travellers the most. Unfortunately, despite its relevance the story provides, at best, a partial picture and, at worst, is downright misleading. The essence of the story comes from a Freedom of Information release. Clearl...

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The Truth About First Great Western: Notwork Snail

http://firstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/07/notwork-snail.html

Sunday, 1 July 2007. A few months ago, rumours abounded that Network Rail wanted to play a greater role in the running of the rail network. Suggestions were made, and subsequently denied, that the company would like to take control of non-London stations, possibly act as a rolling stock company and even take over the jobs of train operating companies. In the words of Margaret Thatcher: no, no, no! The bottom line, however, is clear. You do not make the railway network better by giving control to that...

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The Truth About First Great Western: April 2007

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Thursday, 26 April 2007. Building the model railway. Download the Building the Model Railway booklet by clicking on this. It works best if you right click and than use the ‘Save As’ option rather then left clicking on the links. Alternatively, you can request a copy by emailing fgwtruth@gmail.com and a copy will be sent to you by return. Yet, this is not the golden age of the train. This is the age of cynicism about rail travel. Why? Monday, 23 April 2007. Too high a price? The broad answer is: yes, they...